[sithlord72]

We are planning to move there in 3-4 years. Ok, my wife will need a teaching job, Ill be retired. I will probably look for something part-time..anything part-time. We have two kids, who will be 5 and 9.

So, that being said, we need good schools, and where she can get a job, as well as a low crime area. We currently live in the Hudson Valley, NY.

Any suggestions ???

[Fl1150]

It really depends on what your looking for in a location, is it that you want a safe community with good schools then i would check out the Orlando area. It has plenty of nice communities with good amenties specifically i would look at winter park, windermere and oviedo which are very nice family friendly cities.

[cfbs2691]

Florida neighborhoods can change quite dramatically in those 3-4 years.
I'd wait a bit longer before you start spinning your wheels researching.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by sithlord72

We are planning to move there in 3-4 years. Ok, my wife will need a teaching job, Ill be retired. I will probably look for something part-time..anything part-time. We have two kids, who will be 5 and 9.

So, that being said, we need good schools, and where she can get a job, as well as a low crime area. We currently live in the Hudson Valley, NY.

Any suggestions ???

For good schools and low crime you'll want to avoid Central Florida and South Florida, due mostly to crime problems not to mention congestion/overdevelopment and traffic issues. I'd recommend checking out areas such as Jensen Beach/Stuart/Palm City in Martin County, Ponte Vedra Beach/Nocatee/North St Augustine in St John's County (#1 school district in the state out of 67 counties), Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island/Yulee in Nassau County and Viera/West Rockledge or Suntree/Melbourne in Brevard County. All are beautiful areas with lower crime, less development/traffic and very good public schools.

[KAF41465]

We moved to FL last fall, settled just south of Jacksonville in St. Johns County. We love it more every day--very, VERY kid focused with plenty of outdoor activities available like baseball, soccer, swim teams, lacrosse, etc. You can choose between planned communities (private pools, fitness centers, etc) or more traditional neighborhoods. We are less than 30 minute to just about anything--beach, downtown Jax with museums, zoo, water park, shopping, St. Augustine (oldest continually inhabited city in the country). Our kids are grown, but the abundance of amenities our kids would have loved--and the fact that we can forget to close our garage door overnight and everything is still in it in the morning--are not lost on us. You should definitely check out the area (northern St. Johns County) and consider it for your short list.